AFTER CARE

Socks carry the burden of our daily lives. Bashed around in shoes and sent to the laundry basket after each wear, it's no wonder the grind can take its toll.

But there are ways to prolong the life of the socks and clothes we own.

LAUNDRY

By making a few small adjustments you can save water, energy and money when doing laundry - good for you, and the planet!

1. TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE

90% of the energy used doing laundry is needed to heat up the water.

Hot water - temperatures above 130F are good for removing germs and soils - too hot though and stains can set and your clothes may shrink, fade or become damaged.

Warm water - around 90F is usually the best temperature for most clothing. It won't cause fading or damage, and requires less energy to heat the water.

Cold water - 80F is the best temperature for dark clothing, as it reduces the likelihood of colors bleeding, and it is also the most energy and eco efficient option.

2. SWITCH DETERGENT

Most common detergents are derived from petroleum. They contain nasty chemicals, brighteners and softeners.

Natural detergents are much better for your clothes and the environment. They are often plant based, don't cause chemical leaching in to our waterways and work well at cold wash temperatures!

Or better yet, make your own detergent from vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda, or try out our soap nuts - available in the shop.

3. WASH LESS OFTEN

It takes at least 40 gallons of water to wash even the most economical load. Making sure that the drum is full and washing less frequently will reduce the amount of water used but also how much you spend on laundry.

Most clothing items can be worn 3-4 times before needing to be washed, of course this is subject to soiling, sweat and smells. But reducing the amount of times we wash our clothes doesn't just reduce energy and water use, it also extends the lifespan of the garment.

Washing machines and tumble dryers chuck our clothes around, putting stress on the fibers, seams and integrity of the garments. The less they get bashed around the better condition they will stay in.

To catch the fibers our garments release new innovations are coming to market - check out the Cora Ball available in the shop.

4. SKIP THE DRYER

Tumble dryers are often the cause of shrinking, piling and the release of lint or microfibers - reducing the lifespan of our clothing and increasing pollution in our waterways.

This is one of the reasons we designed Teddy Locks socks to be so quick-drying. By hang drying them they last longer while also saving you time, money and energy.

If you can't break up with the dryer - definitely ditch the dryer sheets. The chemicals found in them aren't good for you or the planet, AND they can't be recycled.

Using natural, wool dryer balls is better, as they absorb water - reducing the amount of time the dryer needs to be on and therefore the amount of energy used - available in the shop.